Benefits

Women in the fight against cuts

Unison has almost one million women members, who will be an important part of the current struggle to defend our pensions. The proposed changes will hit women hardest, since so many are working part-time to juggle caring responsibilities with work, and earning significantly less than men. Women receive significantly less than the average public sector pension which is, in any case, hardly extravagant at £7,800 a year. The average is £3,500 for women in the NHS and £2,700 for women in local government. Women also make up the majority (two-thirds) of public sector workers. Thus they have been...

Decent benefits for all!

Liam Byrne, Labour’ s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, has told chancellor George Osborne that he should not include pensions in a Tory plan to not increase benefits in line with the 5.2% inflation rate recorded in September. The plan will save £10.4 billion for the government. But Byrne stayed silent on other benefits! Does he think that some of the most vulnerable in society could be receiving even less cash in real terms? Labour should not be calling for only pensioners to be spared the axe — everyone should see their benefits increase, and financial support should be scaled up not down.

Government prepares incapacity benefits purge

According to new research by Sheffield Hallam University, more than more half a million sick and disabled people could be forced out of the benefits system by 2014. The researchers estimate that 600,000 people will lose their social security benefits as a result of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) being extended to people currently claiming Incapacity Benefit. ESA was introduced for new claimants in 2008. Amid the rightful anger at the draconian and arbitrary ESA medical assessment which has seen hundreds of seriously ill people declared fit for work, another point is often overlooked...

No to "work for your dole"

On 19 October the Boycott Workfare coalition protested outside a conference for businesses involved in implementing the government’s Work Programme and other welfare reforms. Dressed as prisoners in a chain gang, adorned with corporate logos, the protest was to to highlight how big business “gets something for nothing” under the new measures People claiming Jobseekers Allowance could now be mandated to undertake up to 30 hours unpaid work per week for up to four weeks. An artist also invited passers by to take part in her installation about mandatory work activity, paying them 3p a minute to...

Workfare heading for meltdown?

The UK’s official number of unemployed is now an appalling total of 2.51 million. The situation will put pressure on the government’s strategy for reducing unemployment — the so-called Work Programme. The Work Programme is based on the same principle as New Labour schemes such as the New Deal. Under these schemes government employs private companies to (supposedly) do intensive job searches, CV writing etc, with individual long-term unemployed people. Under the Work Programme, all unemployed people will be included (not just target groups) and the private contractors will only get paid if and...

Magistrates to cut benefits?

The government is considering allowing magistrates and crown court judges to withdraw the social security benefits of those they convict as part of its response to last month’s riots. Child benefit and maintenance payments could also be stopped if children truant or are on the street at night. An e-petition on the Government’s website to cut benefits from those found guilty of riot-related offences has attracted nearly a quarter of a million signatures. Alongside the drive by councils to evict families of convicted rioters, these plans signal a further step towards collective punishment of...

Higher Child Benefit for "better parents"?

A report by a think tank linked to the Lib Dems has suggested that parents who pass a parenting test should be paid more in Child Benefit. Those who can show they have completed a "five-a-day" programme - reading with their child for 15 minutes, playing for 10 minutes, talking with the television off for 20 minutes, giving praise and providing a nutritious diet - should it suggests receive extra money on top of their Child Benefit. CentreForum which produced the report describes itself as "an independent, liberal think tank" but in reality has close links to Lib Dem members of the Government...

MP's slam sickness benefit testing regime

The Department for Work and Pensions Select Committee has described the process being used to reassess Incapacity Benefit claimants as "flawed". A report by the committee concludes that the Work Capabilty Assessment - a short interview in which yes/no boxes are ticked on a computer screen - has led to "fear and anxiety among vulnerable people" and large numbers of claimants with serious and long-term medical problems having their benefits cut or stopped altogether. The report goes on to say: "It is widely accepted that the Work Capability Assessment [WCA], as introduced in 2008, was flawed...

Cuts in jobs and benefits go hand in hand

According to a report by the National Audit Office, the Department for Work and Pensions "will have to make rapid progress in reorganising the way it operates if it is to meet its target of cutting costs by £20 billion in four years while achieving substantial reform of the welfare system." The 2010 Spending Review envisions the DWP saving £2.67bn in running costs and £16.96bn in cuts to benefits and pensions by 2014-15. As well as attacks on benefits, the indications are clear that the government intends to cut jobs in the DWP. The civil service union PCS should be gearing up for a serious...

Sneaky cut in pension credit

This government has not only betrayed existing pensioners with this new pension scheme, it’s about to hit some pensioner couples who are also receiving Pension Credit, if an amendment in the Welfare Reform Bill goes through parliament in its present form. “Welfare Reform Bill Explanatory Notes: Page 22 145. Paragraph 64 amends the State Pension Credit Act 2002 so that a member of a couple who has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit may not receive state pension credit if the other member of the couple has not attained that qualifying age. This is to ensure that all claimants...

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.